Early identification of children with high intellectual abilities is crucial for their specific needs to be met and their full potential to be developed. The article “Common Questions on Extreme Intelligence in Children and Preschoolers” (DAVIDSON INSTITUTE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TALENT, s.d.) highlights the importance of recognizing early signs of extreme intelligence in young children, such as early language development, long attention span and unusual alertness.
The study by Rogers and Silverman (1997), cited in the article, revealed that 94% of children with high abilities were very alert as babies and 91% had early language development. In addition, 60% demonstrated early development of motor skills and 48.9% were ambidextrous at some point in development.
The paper emphasizes that early identification of intellectual talent in young children is critical for them to receive appropriate support and have their educational needs met effectively. Early evaluation allows parents and educators to understand the unique characteristics of these children and develop strategies to stimulate their potential, such as curriculum enrichment, acceleration in specific areas and access to special programs for gifted children.
Importantly, not all children with high abilities show the same early signs, and some may even experience delays in certain areas of development. Therefore, a comprehensive and individualized assessment is essential to identify the needs of each child and plan the most appropriate interventions.
Reference:
DAVIDSON INSTITUTE FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT. Common Questions on Extreme Intelligence in Children and Preschoolers. . s.d. Available in: https://www.davidsongifted.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FAQ-Extreme-Intelligence-Portuguese.pdf. Accessed on: 2 Jul. 2024.
